MET IS 360 Literature, Film, and the American Dream

This course will examine the nature of the American Dream as seen through fiction, essays, poetry, autobiography, historical documents, and art. It will follow a chronological pattern with the Dream evolving from the Puritan fathers’ desire for religious freedom to the Revolution's emphasis on political liberty, the nineteenth century's focus on self reliance, and the quest for the good life characteristic of the twentieth century. At the same time, such characteristic thematic elements as the desire for equality, individual expansion and achievement, and the maturation of the soul will be examined in terms of their impact on all the different permutations of the Dream. (4 cr.)

MET IS 396 Psychology and Film: Images of Madness

Classic feature films produced from the 1920s to the present portraying insanity from many standpoints, considered from both cinematic and socio-psychological perspectives. The public image of madness on the screen related to clinical concepts and practices current during the period of the film. Lab course. (4 cr.)

MET IS 423 The Experience of Forgiveness: Psychological, Sociological, and Spiritual Perspectives

This seminar explores the psycho/social/spiritual dimensions of the individual’s experience of forgiveness. The forgiveness process is investigated through the work of psychologists such as Carl Jung and Robert Enright and the spiritual/political leaders Martin Luther King, Jr., the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Individual narratives by forgivers are viewed in relation to the frames provided by these activists and researchers. Throughout the course, students will examine their own life narratives in relation to forgiveness, and the experiential nature of this course offers students the opportunity to apply what they are learning. (4 cr.)

MET IS 470 Biblical Archaeology: Methods, Theories, Contexts

This course is designed to examine important archaeological discoveries relating to the Bible. It will focus on two significant cultural settings: the rise of Judah and Israel 3000 years ago, and questions about the historical Jesus. The course will cover the geography and topography of Palestine and the ancient Near East, and archaeological field methods used in Israel and Palestine. The history of writing and significant manuscript discoveries, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, will also be examined. Throughout the course, students will examine how archaeologists, looters, forgers, journalists, and theologians fight each other for the opportunity to discover, interpret, and sensationalize artifacts for the religious and irreligious alike. As we examine the archaeological artifacts, students will situate them in terms of their interpretation in documentary films, recent book publications, and other modern media. (4 cr.)

MET IS 491, 492 Directed Study

Independent study under faculty guidance. Prior approval of program director required. (4 cr.)